Uber boss to hold talks on London licence

by Dramelin 8:30 PM 0 comments

Uber`s new chief executive will meet London`s transport commissioner later to discuss the firm losing its licence.
Dara Khosrowshahi is meeting Mike Brown, who runs Transport for London, which has criticised the firm`s record over reporting criminal offences and carrying out driver background checks.
Uber has apologised for "mistakes" and said it could make concessions.
Uber`s licence expired on Saturday but its drivers can continue to operate in the capital while it pursues an appeal.
TfL said Mr Brown was holding the talks with the taxi-hailing app firm`s global chief executive following an approach from the company and at London Mayor Sadiq Khan`s request.
The regulator decided not to renew Uber`s London licence last month after it deemed the firm "unfit" to run a taxi service.
An Uber spokesman said the firm had yet to file an appeal, but the company has indicated it will do so before a 13 October deadline.
The meeting comes as Mr Khosrowshahi faces pressure in the US over former Uber boss Travis Kalanick`s influence over the company`s board.
Mr Kalanick, who is still one of the firm`s biggest shareholders, appointed two new directors in a surprise move on Friday.
Analysis: Don`t expect immediate peace By Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent For Uber`s boss, today`s meeting is the chance to show the company has changed since he took over.
Dara Khosrowshahi`s admission a few days after TfL decided not to renew its licence that Uber had "got things wrong" was already a marked change of tone from that of the taxi app`s hard charging founder Travis Kalanick.
There`s also a sense that the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who welcomed the apology, would like TfL to find a way to reach a deal with Uber in the longer run.
But don`t expect peace to break out today.
The likeliest outcome is that Mr Khosrowshahi and TfL commissioner Mike Brown will release bland statements talking of a "useful" meeting but stressing there are still lots of issues to resolve.
Meanwhile, Uber`s lawyers are gathering evidence and gearing up to launch an appeal - a lengthy court battle rather than a quick meeting over coffee may determine whether the taxi app has a future in London.